Cozumel is known for its miles and miles of pristine beaches and coastal areas. And all along the island's shoreline there are sand dunes piled up behind these beautiful beaches. As visitors walk along the water's edge and dig their toes into the soft sand, few realize that the health and beauty of the beaches are heavily dependent on the sand dunes just behind them. As more and more research is done on coastal eco-systems, scientists are now beginning to make us fully aware of the critically important role that sand dunes play in our global, coastal eco-systems.

Sand Dune Ecology

Sand dunes provide a wide range of habitats for a variety of unusual, interesting and adaptive plants that can cope with unstable habitats. Sand dunes form in relatively exposed locations. All over a dune, very specialized plants adapt to the accumulation of sand around them surviving the continual burial of their shoots by sending up very rapid vertical growth. With the help of these plant shoots, small mounds of vegetation and/or tide-washed debris can form and tend to enlarge as the wind-speed drops behind the mound, allowing blowing sand to fall out of the air stream and accumulate which constantly increases the size of a dune. The plants are physiologically adapted to withstand the problems of high salt contents in the air and soil. Sand dunes support a wide variety of colorful flowering plants, including a number of species of orchid.

On the inland side of dunes conditions are less severe, and typical grasslands develop containing a wide range of plant life. When enough humus has accumulated within the grassland sand, this more stabilized soil improves water retention and promotes further plant diversity development. Consequently, sand dune systems are excellent places for biodiversity, partly because they are not very productive for agriculture, and partly because these unstable and stable soil habitats are present in proximity to each other. Many dune areas are protected as nature reserves, and some are parts of larger conservation areas incorporating other coastal co-existing habitats like salt marshes, mud flats, grasslands, scrub and woodland.

All coastal dune ecosystems also support a population of animal species in addition to plant life. Since most animal life requires basic survival elements such as shelter, food and water, it stands to reason that species density in any one area would be dependent on their availability. Small birds, reptiles, crustaceans, and other coastal species commonly call the coastal dunes their home. As the dune system moves from the fore dunes toward the back dunes, with their increased vegetation, the ecosystem becomes more complex, supporting a larger amount of species. Sand dune systems are also very rich in invertebrates including butterflies, moths and burrowing bees and wasps.

The beach is a margin of sand in a dynamic ebb and flow controlled by tides, winds, currents and waves. The critical factor is the presence of a sufficiently large beach plain whose surface dries out between high tides. Off shore shallow sand banks release the initial energy from ocean swells as they break and send secondary waves with low residual energy gently up and down the beach. The dissipative beaches are wide, gently sloping, slow draining and quite firm underfoot because the fine sand particles fit close together. These beaches support a relatively high variety of burrowing organisms. Because of their shallow gradients, these beaches also act as traps for another group of organisms called diatoms. Diatoms survive between sand grains and provide the chief food for bi-valves and other filter feeders.

Recreation is a major land use on sand dune areas. Many dune systems are used extensively by tourists, mostly on foot but also for parking cars and in some cases for driving four-wheel-drive vehicles or motorcycles. Moderate pressure by pedestrians may cause little damage, however, excessive pedestrian use and vehicular use in particular, have caused unacceptable erosion on many dune sites.

Many dune systems also support one or more golf courses. Here much of the original vegetation may be retained in the rough, but the communities of the fairways, and particularly the greens and tees, are often severely modified by mowing, fertilizing and re-seeding. Sand dunes have also been affected in the past by housing developments, industrial development, and waste collection areas on or adjacent to them as well as sand extraction.

What can you do to help protect and conserve Cozumel’s sand dunes?

If you live part time or full time or vacation on the island:

Sign up & participate in ongoing beach cleanup efforts in Cozumel.

Keep your visits to the beaches “green” by not discarding trash. Leave the beach pristine. If you want to go beyond being an environmentally conscious visitor, there are a number of ways you can become proactive in the protection of our sand dunes. Pick up trash as you walk along the shore, and recycle or dispose of it properly. Encourage better behavior by other users; point out regulations and the reasons for them. Report any serious violation you see to the proper authorities.

If you must cross the dune, pick your way between the plants and avoid already-eroded trails and steep approaches. If there is more than one person, select spots where the dune is shallow and spread out; return to the beach by a different route.

Do not build fires on the beach. While dried driftwood makes great campfires, this and other natural debris washed up by the lake help trap sand, and are the only source of nutrients available for plant growth on the dunes. Also, beach campfires leave unsightly scars and pose a fire threat to surrounding vegetation in this dry habitat.

Do not ride all-terrain vehicles on the beach.

Do not disturb water birds, migrating shorebirds, and nesting shorebirds. They are extremely intolerant of visitors and are easily denied nesting habitat by the very presence of recreational beach/dune users.

If you are a golfer, encourage golf course management policies and practices that are sympathetic to the flora and fauna of sand dune systems.

Support legislation for sound management of the world’s coastal areas with your government.

Maintaining sandunes is essentional for Cozumel’s future.
Thank you for doing your part to protect and conserve Cozumel’s sandunes.

Visit Cozumel's only Butterfly Sanctuary! See multitudes of colors, learn about butterfly habits and the miracle of metamorphosis. Take photos and then stay to enjoy snorkeling and the other ammenities of the Beach Club. Great family fun & excellent value!
US $14 Adults / US $8 Kids Includes FREE Drinks!

If "Action" and "Speed" are what you seek in excursions then the Royal Swim is for you! Action and Speed pretty much describe this popular dolphin program! Get a handshake, a kiss and then you give them one. Feel the strength of your new friends as they push you across the water from the bottom of your feet in the thrilling foot-push. It is "the experience of a lifetime!"
US $169 Adults / US $89 Kids

Cozumel's largest natural eco-park featuring a lighthouse to climb, Mayan ruins to see, coves to snorkel, a nautical museum, sea turtle nesting areas, a crocodile sanctuary, an enormous mangrove lagoon where spoonbill flamingos nest and white egrets go hunting daily along with a multitude of other animal species that call the park home. Experience Cozumel's wildlife up close and personal during this unique tour excursion activity!
US $125 Adults / US $115 Kids

Your next vacations will have it all as Puerto Aventuras gives you the perfect place to spend your vacations with pristine waters, sun and great activities to enjoy adventure in the best destination. This vacations will be memorable and the best experience of your life!
US$ 129.00 Adults / US$ 89.00 Kids

Bring your group and spend the day at our PalMar small, private beach facility and enjoy a day of snorkeling at Cozumel's premier beach entry snorkel spot! No crowd here and gates close daily with a maximum of 50 people on site!
US $14 Adults / US $8 Kids Includes FREE Drinks!

Meet, greet and touch one of the most amazing marine animals of the Caribbean Sea, the dolphins that have captivated humans since we know they existed. The program has a great opportunity for an up-close interaction with our friendly and playful dolphins. You will learn everything you wanted to know about their diet, activities, behavior and many more facts. The Dolphin Swim Adventure program includes the famous belly ride. The belly ride consists of you holding on to the dolphin’s fins as he swims backwards. Beside this exciting activity, you will play with the dolphin, receive a kiss, a handshake and will learn how they sing and dance on the water.
US$ 129.00 Adults / US$ 89.00 Kids

Share a series of sensational and safe activities while establishing a unique bond of trust. With a handshake, kiss and belly ride will enjoy moments of great spontaneity during your free time together. It is an unforgettable experience!
US$ 129.00 Adults / US$ 89.00 Kids

This eco adventure park has the longest and highest 1.86 mile zip lines of the region ending on a refreshing Cenote plunge, adventure jungle tours on amphibious vehicles, an underground universe of 437 yd rivers where you can swim while admiring rock formations, a stunning route across subterranean caverns with natural wells while paddling a raft, and finally a delicious light buffet, that will recharge your energy.
US$ 119.00 Adults / US$ 59.50 Kids

This eco adventure park has the longest and highest 1.86 mile zip lines of the region ending on a refreshing Cenote plunge, adventure jungle tours on amphibious vehicles, an underground universe of 437 yd rivers where you can swim while admiring rock formations, a stunning route across subterranean caverns with natural wells while paddling a raft, and finally a delicious light buffet, that will recharge your energy.
US$ 149.00 Adults / US$ 74.50 Kids

Spectacular day trip whale shark snorkel experience with boat departing from Isla Holbox! Personal service from a professional guide who escorts guests the entire way from Isla Cozumel to Isla Holbox!
US $210 Per Person

BEAUTIFUL PRIVATE BEACH CLUB - I am so thankful to have found this wonderful place! We disembarked a Carnival Cruise ship with about 1500 other people. They headed out on some high priced cruise sponsored excursion, and we headed out to our own private beach, pool, and snack bar...complete with extremely attentive staff! They made FRESH guacamole and pico right in front of us, and mixed up some wonderful frozen drinks as well. We snorkeled to our heart's contentment and watched as boat after boat brought their customers to snorkel on the same reef that we had private access to!! It was so wonderfully relaxing and soothing. I personally recommend that you wear a life vest when snorkeling as the current can be tiring. You can stay out a lot longer with the life vest on! Sherri, thanks so much for making your beautiful property so very affordable! We will be back with our hubbies next time! We look very forward to our next visit. S. Corder (October 2016) ~ Trafford, AL USA

Spent a wonderful day at the family owned resort. Great food, clean, safe, nice pool and you walk across the street to the beach. Great snorkeling and clean beach area. Good value and inexpensive Day excursion, taxi from port was $11.00 each way. A. Young - August 2015 ~ Boynton Beach, FL USA

If you want the best beach entry snorkel experience, you have to come out to PalMar Beach Club for the day. We came out on Wednesday, 12/02/2015 and not only saw thousands of Brightly Colored fish (yet to be identified), 2 rays, an octopus, and a sturgeon. Don't miss the Beautiful Purple Sea Fan Forest just to the right of the beach entry. But the best find of the day was a Moray eel who was nice enough to smile for the camera :) The staff made us feel like family and the food was delicious. If I had known how GREAT a snorkeling spot this was I would have booked a spot for 2 straight days......Definitely Next Time!!! Nick & Tori - December 2015 ~ Frisco, TX USA

The royal dophin swim was wonderful! My husband and I can't wait to come back and do it again. Thanks! Tara ~ Ohio, USA

We spent a day @ your club while our ship was in port. What a wise choice ! The snorkeling was fantastic and your club was staffed by the warmest, kindest people that we met in Cozumel. Mauricio, Dn. Juan and your other staff made us feel comfortable and welcome . The food was delicious, the drinks great and the prices very reasonable. They almost sold us another stay right then and there. We will be back and have already posted our review on the web. Muchos Gracias ! V. Perry ~ Danbury, CT USA